Search Warrants Executed for Suspects in Homicide of Michael Edwards

Three search warrants were executed, and arrests were made on Thursday for the suspects involved in the July murder of Michael Edwards , the V.I. Police Department reported.

At around 12:27 a.m. on July 27, the 911 Emergency Call Center sent officers to respond to reports of shots fired in Christiansted Town near the Velvet Haze Lounge. Subsequently, 911 received reports of multiple gunshot victims at that location, as relayed over the police radio, according to the police report.

Upon the arrival of the responding detectives, they learned that one of the victims succumbed to his injuries. Investigation into this homicide revealed that Jamar Ayala, Jared Dover, and Kaden Durand shot multiple victims and during their reckless act, they killed Micheal Edwards, the police report stated.

Dover, 22, and Ayala, 19, were charged with the murder of 25-year-old Edwards, respectively, and Durand, who was also shot that night, was only charged with the illegal possession of a firearm at this time, the report stated.

This case was filed at the Attorney General's office and an Honorable Judge of the Superior Court issued multiple search and arrest warrants. Bail was set at $1,000,000 for Ayala and Dover and at $50,000 for Durand, it said.

On Thursday, members of the Criminal Investigation Bureau and Special Operations Bureau executed the search warrants for the residences of Durand, Ayala, and Dover, according to the report.

During the search of Durand's residence, a firearm and ammunition were seized and secured for evidence. A semi-automatic handgun with a full automatic converter chip was found in the bedroom closet in plain view. Both occupants, Shantel Torres, 24, and Durand, 19, were arrested and charged with the possession of the firearm. Their bail was set at $50,000, the report stated.

During the search of Ayala's residence, a large amount of different caliber ammunition and firearm paraphernalia were seized, and he was arrested and charged with possession of ammunition. Ayala's bail was set at $5,000, it said.

At Dover's residence, a high-power rifle was recovered and a fully loaded magazine for the rifle was also recovered. Dover was subsequently charged with possession of ammunition and firearm paraphernalia. Per the bail chart, his bail was set at $5,000, the report stated.